Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Tuesday June 6^th: Joan Burke chaired the meeting, (Chris Posbergh, co-chair was absent), and Brady Campbell was secretary. Bret Taylor (host) and Joan Burke opened the meeting by welcoming in-person and virtual attendees to the Visitors Community Center in Dubois, ID, hosted by USDA, ARS Sheep Experiment Station, going over the meeting agenda and objectives (presented from Objectives 4 to 1). Introductions were made. Station Reports were made by participants. A tour of the RSPER sheep facilities occurred in the afternoon.

Wednesday June 7^th: New Administrative Advisor, Dr. Guillermo Scaglia gave an overview for the project group. Remaining Station Reports were made by participants. Participants toured the Siddoway Sheep Company/Juniper Mountain Elk Ranch. The business meeting then called to order. Nominations Committee nominated Whit Stewart as Secretary for 2023-2024. Chris Posbergh will move to Chair and Brady Campbell will move to co-chair. Resolutions Committee discussed resolutions for filling Land Grant University sheep extension specialist and/or faculty positions and thanking invited guests for attendance at the meeting, and letters to be sent to Deans/Department Heads/Ag Experiment Station Directors to express continued support for each member’s respective sheep research program. For the 2024 Annual Meeting, Rosie Busch volunteered to host at UC Davis, Hopland Research Center in June 2024. Recruitment/Membership: Juan Villalba, Travis Whitney, and Leyla Rios are no longer members; Chris Schauer and Morgan Pfeiffer absent. Andrew Hess and Bret Taylor and Carrie Wilson were encouraged to become members. Business meeting adjourned.

Accomplishments:

The goal of the NC 214 multistate group is to increase the efficiency of sheep production through a plan specified by 4 major objectives focused on the general areas of: 1) reproductive efficiency, 2) meat yield and quality, 3) genetics, nutrition, production systems and 4) profitable and sustainable grazing systems. The group has defined a plan to do this through a cooperative multistate effort and began executing this plan in 2021. The outcomes, outputs and activities of this effort are outline below.

Short term outcomes: Establishment of genetic reference flocks at USDA, ARS (Booneville, Dubois, Clay Center) and collaborative research among member locations.

Outputs and Activities:

The cooperative outputs of this project are described according to objective below. Briefly, abstracts presented at scientific meetings, extension activities and publications, podcasts, stakeholder communication.

Objective 1: Improving reproductive efficiency (Michigan State University; USDA, ARS, MARC; Virginia State University). 

• Is scrotal ultrasound a useful tool in ram breeding soundness examination (BSE)?
  • ~25% of rams that have passed a BSE are NOT guaranteed breeders (e.g., asexual, homosexual, etc.).
  • = 3 rams/75 ewes. Parentage tests to determine which rams sired which lambs.
  • Accelerometer and video data to support ram behavior.
  • Measuring vessel area across the testis could be used as a tool to better understand overall fertility in rams (observing varicocele in pampiniform plexus).
• Pregnancy rates of landrace hair sheep replacement lambs of two ages mated during different seasons.
  • Ewe lambs bred at 7 months of age bred successfully in Nov., but not in July or March. Ewe lambs bred at 11 months of age, bred similarly to mature ewes in July, March, and Nov.
• Impact of pre-breeding nutrition and the male effect on reproductive outcomes in accelerated lamb production.
  • Optimize nutritional management for accelerated lambing.
  • Dorset and Polypay ewes managed on an 8-month accelerated system.
  • Study #1 – nutritional treatments – 100% maintenance, 50% underfed, 200% of requirements.
  • Ewes sorted according to litter sizes to meet the needs of experimental treatments.
  • Study #2 – litter size across season à short season breeding resulted in greater litter size than long season breeding.
  • If you have a potent male effect, you can shorten the breeding window.

Objective 2:  Develop strategies to improve lean lamb growth and meat quality (Ohio State University; University of Wyoming; Virginia State University).

• Meat quality of BBB and St. Croix hair sheep lambs rendered short scrotum or castrated at weaning.
  • Lambs harvested onsite using a mobile unit.
  • Meat quality parameters – castrated animals were fatter than short scrotum animals.
  • Castration increased fat and tenderness but had no effect on other meat quality parameters.
• Assessing delaying feedlot diet via background in Rambouillet wethers
  • Challenge in western sheep production = carcasses weighing 167 lbs.
    • Backgrounding during the summer, fall, and winter months right at or slightly above maintenance requirements. Comparing groups of lambs that are 7 months of age vs. 12 months of age. Backgrounded lambs had lesser fat with similar REA when compared with feedlot lambs.
  • Characterizing Katahdin growth, carcass performance, and sensory characteristics
    • All lambs fed the same diet and of similar size focusing on trans sensory metrics.
  • Evaluating the effect of hay or soybean hulls during gestation on the growth and DMI of ewes and BW of offspring at birth and weaning.
    • Evaluated feeding hay ad-libitum (traditional and the control), limit fed hay, and soybean hulls.
    • Feed intake of ewes offered soyhulls had to be limited as the ewes continue increasing feed intake. Soyhull fed ewes consumed more feed with less weight gain.
    • Feeding soyhulls as an alternative forage source may be a viable solution in times of economic stress (i.e., when hay prices are high).
  • Impact of Agrivoltaics in the US à DOE FARMS funding announcement, 4 areas of focused work
    • Hay ready solar
    • Construction impacts on soil health
    • The use of precision ag technology
    • Complementary grazing strategies

Objective 3:  Evaluate genetic resources, nutrient requirements, and production systems for lamb, wool, and milk production (Purdue University; Texas A&M; University of California-Davis; University of Idaho; USDA, ARS, MARC and DBSFRC; West Virginia University; collaborating with University of Nevada-Reno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USDA-ARS-RSPER).

• Factors that influence ewe longevity
  • Lamb production, health (udder, OPP, etc.), BCS (dental, legs, feet), Unknowns (Predation), management (market and feed prices).
  • 32 sig SNIPs for influence of ewe longevity.
  • Rambouillet sheep exhibited the greatest longevity, and the Suffolk had the lowest longevity.
• Genetic association of wool quality characteristics in Rambouillet sheep.
  • Ram testing – 6 wool characteristics = grease fleece weight, clean fleece weight, staple length, micron, face wool, and skin folds/wrinkles.
  • Rams with 2 copies of the C allele had sig lower fiber diameter.
  • Rams with one or more copies of C allele had sig higher clean wool.

• Targhee sire benchmarking at the US sheep experiment station; A need from sheep producers to evaluate wool type sires.
  • Purchased rams based NSIP values whereas sheep station rams were selected based on rigorous phenotypic evaluation.
  • Differences between sires was nominal.

• Birth season and production system effects on post-weaning growth and GIN infection in Katahdin lambs.
  • Time x season-system interaction was significant for all traits.
  • Fall born lambs decreased in FEC whereas winter born lambs increased.
  • Slight advantages for organic lambs when compared with conventional.

• Genetic parameter estimates of post-weaning growth and GIN infection traits of Katahdin lambs.
  • Comparison of traits and sampling techniques. Conversation on the benefit of using PCV vs. FAMACHA

• Simulation of Katahdin flocks
  • Validation of genotyping scenarios
    • Genomic information is essential in correcting pedigree errors.
    • Testing the impact of having different genotyping errors.

• Steps towards including parasite resistance in an economic selection index: Hair sheep.
  • What is a selection index à choosing animals on their overall productivity.
  • US Hair Sheep Index – Productivity = Total weight of lamb weaned/ewe
  • All traits lose response as PWFEC increases in its weight.
    • PWFEC must be incorporated into the metric to not negatively impact parasite data generated.
  • Spearman Rank Correlations
  • Next steps à bioeconomic model to estimate economic weights.

• Biggest question received from clientele – how to raise orphan lambs?
• Surveying needs of producers
  • Surveying the prevalence of OPP in CA flocks; Interestingly, no results in small flocks, large commercial flocks à anywhere from 2 – 60%
• Evaluating H contortus resistance in hair sheep lambs with divergent fecal egg count estimated breeding values.
  • Susceptible breeds vs. more tolerant breeds (Dorper vs. Barbados Blackbelly×Mouflon)
  • Dorper breed divided into a high and low EBV.
  • Treatment 10,000 L3 larva
  • Crossbred lamb PCV increased after infection and had a great lymph node weight (21 days after initial challenge).

• Measuring immune competence in animals
  • Mastitis and culling rates in Katahdin flocks
  • Average IgG of Katahdin lambs in response to clostridium vaccine
  • Grimace scores of different breeds of sheep each hour after administering LSP IV. St. Croix sheep were able to handle this challenge quicker (~5 hrs.) than the Suffolk sheep.
• Can resistant sheep “taste” infection?

Objective 4:  Develop profitable and sustainable production systems that address grazing strategies for animal health and well-being and for ecosystem health, biological control of invasive plants and wildfire mitigation (Michigan State University; Texas A&M; University of Rhode Island; University of Wyoming; USDA, ARS, MARC and DBSFRC; West Virginia University; collaborating with University of Nevada-Reno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USDA-ARS-RSPER, Purdue University, University of Idaho). 

• Duddingtonia flagrans (DF) included in trace mineral mix or feed for control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep.
  • Effect of DF on feed or loose mineral on larval recovery. What is the effect of saliva in the mineral on the viability of the DF spores?
• Katahdin Reference Flocks – GEMS
  • Focus on udder health, mouth confirmation and foot health, hair shedding, BW, BCS, early pregnancy rate, reason culled.

• Anthelmintic efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein CryH18 against Haemonchus contortus in ovine.
• In vitro screening of Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil) strains against hatchability of Haemonchus contortus.
  • Testing cranberry vine for the control of GIN.
  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) à gram + soil bacteria – sporulation results in crystals lysates
  • Birdsfoot Trefoil
  • In-vitro work looking at the use of stored forages as natural anthelmintics

• Where’s Waldo? Describing resilience linked land use behaviors of sheep via GPS collars.
  • Challenges facing extensively managed flocks.
    • Distance traveled, missing data (location of tracking device), energy expenditure, nutritional density of feeds, daily individual distance.
    • Dispersion
    • Water usage

• Evaluating the environmental footprint of the US sheep industry
  • Capturing the diversity of US lamb production
    • Intensive production, intensive grazing, extensive grazing, range, feedlot
    • Investigation of GHG emissions based upon products produced and type of operation.
    • Factors that impact GHG/kg of lamb à weaned lambs/ewe, replacement rate, number of breeding ewes, time on pasture, kg feed/ewe, ewe first breeding age, fuel/ewe, ADG of market lambs.

• Sheep stocking density effects on Delphinium geyeri: implications for cattle grazing systems in the high plains.
• Geyer’s larkspur – toxic to cattle
• Can we get sheep to graze the young stands of these forages?
  • Grazing preference?
  • Targeting this forage at green up à helps acclimate the sheep to this forage in its vegetative stage.
  • Used bite counts and Fecal DNA – DNA is not useful on vegetative forages but works well with dormant forages.
  • Differences in breeds of sheep for targeted grazing?

Milestones: Project milestones are on target to complete project objectives.          

Activities:

For objective 1, the impacts in 2023 are greater understanding to the scientific community of the potential for novel compounds to regulate reproduction and factors impacting reproductive performance of hair sheep in intensive forage-based production systems. Additionally, several multi-institutional experiments have     been initiated focused on quantifying genetic and non-genetic factors associated with ewe and ram reproductive performance. There were also 4 extension programs provided to regional and national audiences on improving reproductive management of sheep. In addition, there were 4 extension publications and 11 scientific publications produced by this group on the topic of understanding and improving reproductive management of sheep.

For objective 2, there were several collaborative efforts within this group aimed at improving lamb growth, meat, and carcass quality. These efforts yielded information            on the potential of cover crop grazing systems to finish lambs, relationships among lamb growth and feed efficiency metrics, maintaining lamb meat quality through packaging, the impact and feasibility of methods of managing ram lambs to improve growth and carcass quality, and the interface between lamb health and post-weaning growth. Additional collaborative efforts amongst participating institutions have focused on collecting in-depth lamb carcass characteristics to aid in the development of new genetic tools aimed at improving lamb quality. These findings reached producer audiences through 4 regional extension programs and 4 scientific publications produced by this group on the topic of understanding and improvement lamb growth and carcass characteristics. 

For objective 3, there are several collaborative projects underway which seek to understand genetic and non-genetic factors associated with flock productivity and health. One such project was the focus of a successful multi-institutional USDA NIFA grant (USDA ARS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Purdue University, and the National Sheep Improvement Program; $650,000) that will incorporate genomic information into predictors of genetic merit and evaluate novel traits for their suitability in the National Sheep Improvement Program. Over the past year there has been considerable progress made in this objective in communications to the scientific community resulting in 15 publications. In addition, outreach efforts in the form of 9 extension/outreach programs, 1 national podcast, and 1 popular press article. Group members have also disseminated findings in this objective via consultation with many producers individually and via consultation with feed companies and involvement with the National Sheep Improvement Program. Additional efforts within this objective that will create large impacts in the future of this project are establishing national genetic reference flocks to provide strong genetic connectedness with industry flocks which will allow establishment of indices of genetic merit for additional traits of economic importance. Efforts to quantify these impacts will remain an ongoing effort. 

For objective 4, several efforts have been initiated including a project to evaluate the environmental footprint of US lamb production, two projects evaluating novel methods to control gastrointestinal nematodes and another to understand the influence of season of birth on gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs. There was a strong effort by members of this group to communicate findings related to this objective to the scientific community resulting in 17 publications and 2 popular press articles. Additional efforts of impact include increasing the accuracy of fecal egg count breeding values within the National Sheep Improvement Program via genotyping of reference populations and assisting members with analyses needed to obtain measures of genetic merit for parasite resistance. 

Milestones/Indicators:

Project milestones and their indicators are on track to complete project objectives.

Publications

Arisman, B.C., Burke, J.M., Morgan, J.L.M., Lewis, R.M., 2023. Clustering climate and management practices to define environmental challenges affecting gastrointestinal parasitism in Katahdin sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 101, 1-10.

Becker GM, Burke JM, Lewis RM, Miller JE, Morgan JLM, Rosen BD, Van Tassell CP, Notter DR and Murdoch BM. Variants within gene EDIL3 are associated with increased fecal egg counts in Katahdin sheep at weaning. Frontiers in Genetics (2022). DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.817319

Becker GM, Burke JM, Lewis RM, Miller JE, Morgan JL, Rosen BD, Van Tassell CP, Notter DR, Murdoch BM. Inbreeding and effective population size of United Stated Katahdin sheep. The 12^th World Congress on Genetics applied to Livestock Production (2022). https://www.wageningenacademic.com/pb-assets/wagen/WCGALP2022/23_004.pdf

Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Orlik, S.T., Garza, J.J., Acharya, M., Wood, E., Terrill, T.H., 2023. Sericea lespedeza leaf meal fed to sheep and goats reduces serum concentrations of trace minerals. Sheep Goat Res. J.

Burke, J.M., Popp, M., Anderson, J., Miller, J.E., Notter, D.R., 2022. The impact of sire fecal egg count estimated breeding values on indicators of offspring gastrointestinal nematode infection, and relative impact of lamb estimated breeding values on sale value of ram lambs. Small Rum. Res. 216; 106830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106830.

Davenport KM, Bickhart DM, Worley KC, Murali SC, Cockett NE, Heaton MP, Smith TPL, Murdoch BM, Rosen BD. An improved ovine reference genome assembly to facilitate in depth functional annotation of the sheep genome. GigaScience (2022) Feb 4;11. DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab096.

DelCurto T., Wyffels S., Vavra M., Wisdom M., Posbergh C. 2023. Western Rangeland Livestock Production Systems and Grazing Management. In: Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation,     editor, Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Critical control points of lamb survival.  Proceedings of the Michigan Veterinary Conference.  

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Diagnosis and treatment of hoof disease in small ruminants. Proceedings of the Michigan Veterinary Conference. 

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Prevention and treatment of common nutritional disorders in small ruminants. Proceedings of the Michigan Veterinary Conference.  

Florez, J. M., K. Martins, S. Solin, J. Bostrom, P. Rodríguez-Villamil, F. Ongaratto, S. A. Larson, U. Ganbaatar, A. W. Coutts, D. Kern, T. W. Murphy, E. Kim, D. F. Carlson, A. Huisman, T. S. Sonstegard, and C. A. Lents. CRISPR/Cas9-editing of KISS1 to generate      pigs with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a castration free trait and a mosaic parental line. Frontiers in Genetics 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1078991

Fraley, Hannah. “Sheep Targeted Grazing of Plains Larkspur (Delphinium geyeri) as a Cattle Toxicity Mitigation Strategy”. M.S. Thesis., University of Wyoming- Laramie, College      of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. April 2023

Freking, B. A., T. W. Murphy, C. G. Chitko-McKown, A. M. Workman, and M. P. Heaton. 2022. Impact of four ovine TMEM154 haplotypes on ewes during multiyear lentivirus exposure. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23:14966. doi:10.3390/ijms232314966.

Green, C., Wilmer, H.N., Ferguson, D.B., Crimmins, M.B., Mcclaren, M.P. 2022. Using scale and human agency to frame ranchers’ discussions about socio-ecological change and   resilience. Journal of Rural Studies. 96(2022):217-226.      https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.11.001.

Maierle, C.L., A.R. Weaver, E.E. Felton, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2022. Evaluation of terminal sire breeds for hair sheep production systems: Feedlot environment. Small Ruminant Research, 213: 106726. DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106726

Makela, Barbara, Erin Recktenwald, Filipe Couto Alves, Richard Ehrhardt, Almudena Veiga-Lopez. 2022. Effect of pre-conceptional nutrition and season on fetal growth during early pregnancy in sheep. Theriogenology 190:22-31.

Notter DR, Heidaritabar M, Burke JM, Shirali M, Murdoch BM, Morgan JLM, Morota G, Sonstegard TS, Becker GM, Spangler GL, MacNeil MD, Miller JE. Single nucleotide polymorphism effects on lamb fecal egg count estimated breeding values in progeny-tested Katahdin sires. Frontiers in Genetics (2022) DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.866176.

Oliveira RD, Mousel MR, Gonzalez MV, Durfee CJ, Davenport KM, Murdoch BM, Taylor JB, Neibergs HL, White SN. A high density genome-wide association with absolute blood monocyte count in domestic sheep identifies novel loci. PloS One (2022). DOI.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266748.

Posbergh, C.; Roeder, B.; Murphy, T.; Stewart, W.; Kott, R.; Hatfield, P.; Thomas, V.; Drummond, J. 2023. Ewe and lamb body condition, breeding and production data from the Montana Agricultural Experiment station, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT from 1960 - 2012. Ag Data Commons. doi:10.15482/USDA.ADC/1528462

Ritchie, Clara. “Effects of maturity, diet, breed, and sex on fatty acid profiles from ovine carcasses and the effects of delayed high-energy concentrate diets on carcass and sensory characteristics compared to conventional finishing systems in Rambouillet wethers”. M.S. Thesis., University of Wyoming- Laramie, College of Agriculture, Life Sciences            and Natural Resources. August 2022

Rosa-Velazquez, M., Y. Wang, A. Sanders, S. Pyle, L. G. Garcia, B. M. Bohrer, and A. E. Relling. 2022. Effects of maternal dietary fatty acids during mid-gestation on growth, glucose metabolism, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of lamb progeny that were fed differing levels of dry matter of intake. Meat Science 194. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2022.108991.

Shaub D., Maninger S., Roeder B.L., Posbergh C.J. 2023. Technical Note: The Impact of Temperature and Humidity on United States Fine-Wool Fiber Diameter Measurements. Sheep & Goat Research Journal

Smith, Delaney, Petersson, Katherine, Peterson, Maria L.  Determining the Effects of Cranberry Vine Supplementation on the Ewe and Her Offspring During Pregnancy and Lactation. Animals In Press.

Tajonar, K., M. Gonzalez-Ronquillo, A. E. Relling, R. E. Nordquist, C. Nawroth, and E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez Einar. 2023. Toward assessing the role of dietary fatty acids in lamb's neurological and cognitive development. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 10. doi: 0.3389/fvets.2023.1081141. 

Thorne JW, Bowdridge SA, Murdoch BM, Redden RR. Response of Rambouillet Lambs to an Artificial Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection. Animals (2022) DOI.org/10.3390/ani12091199

Southerland, C.N., Taylor, J.B., Yelich, J.V., Ellison, M.J. 2022. Refined methodology for identification of bitterness aversion in mature rams through quantification of fluid intake     and behavioral response to phenylthiocarbamide. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 254:105706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105706.

Stegemiller, M.R., Redden, R.R., Notter, D.R., Taylor, T., Taylor, J.B., Cockett, N.E., Heaton, M.P., Kalbfleisch, T.S., Murdoch, B.M. 2023. Using whole genome sequence to compare variant callers and breed differences of US sheep. Frontiers in Genetics. 13:1060882. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1060882.

Vargas Jurado, N., Notter, D.R., Taylor, J.B., Brown, D.J., Mousel, M.R., Lewis, R.M. 2022. Model definition for genetic evaluation of purebred and crossbred lambs including heterosis. Journal of Animal Science. 100:1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac188

Weaver, A.R., D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Effect of sire fecal egg count estimated breeding value on parasite resistance traits in Haemonchus contortus infected Katahdin lambs. Sm. Rum. Res. 222: 106970. DOI:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.106970.

Weaver, A.R., D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Effect of sire fecal egg count estimated breeding value on Katahdin lamb parasite resistance in pasture-based system. Sm. Rum. Res. 224:106984. DOI:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.106984.

Weaver, A.R., D.L. Wright, D.R. Notter, A.M. Zajac, S.A. Bowdridge, and S.P. Greiner. 2022. Evaluation of terminal sire breeds for hair sheep production systems: Forage environment. Small Ruminant Research, 213: 106739. DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106739

Whaley, J. R., T. W. Murphy, C. L. Gifford, W. J. Means, J. P. Ritten, H. N. McKibben, C. M. Page, and W. C. Stewart. 2022. Effects of harvest season on carcass characteristics of     lambs harvested in the Intermountain West. App. Anim. Sci. 38:393-401.    doi:10.15232/aas.2022-02322.

Wilson, C.S., Petersen, J.L., Blackburn, H.D., Lewis, R.M. 2022. Assessing population structure and genetic diversity in U.S. Suffolk sheep to define a framework for genomic selection.          Journal of Heredity. 113(4):431-443. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esac026.

Extension publications

Barnes, T. Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small ruminant nutrition considerations. 2023 Small Farm Conference and Trade Show. Mansfield, Ohio, USA. March 11, 2023.

Burke, J.M., 2023. Use of Red Cell to hasten recovery from anemia associated with barber   pole worm. For the Love of Goats (podcast).

Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., Notter, D.R., 2023. How does selection for parasite resistance in Katahdin sheep affect other important traits? Eastern Alliance for Production Katahdins Newsletter.

Burke, J.M., 2022. The value of using sires with high parasite resistance on offspring and the value of NSIP EBVs to sell breeding stock (Timely Topic series). www.wormx.info.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Fall lambs and annual forages. 2022 eBarns Report – Ohio State Digital Ag Program. p. 54-55. 2022 eBarns report link.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Delayed lamb weaning. 2022 eBarns Report – Ohio State Digital Ag Program. p. 52-53. 2022 eBarns report link.

Campbell, B.J., Zynda, H.M. 2022. Annual forages nutrient summary. 2022 eBarns Report – Ohio State Digital Ag Program. p. 18-19. 2022 eBarns report link.

Campbell, B.J., Barnes, T., Garcia-Guerra, A. 2022. AS-1025 – Small Ruminant Production: Are CIDRs Reusable? Ohioline: Ohio State University Extension Factsheet Publications. Factsheet link.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Interpreting forage analyses and understanding ruminant livestock needs. Small Farm Ruminant Field Day. Jackson, Ohio, USA. April 29, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Assessing wool – Natures natural fiber. Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District: Sheep and Wool Workshop. Mansfield, Ohio, USA. April 11, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Parasite control and prevention in small ruminants. 2023 Small Farm Solutions Annual Conference. Kidron, Ohio, USA. February 25, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Nutrition: Gestation, Nursing, Early Growth, and Maintenance. Lambing and Kidding Basics Field Day. LaRue, Ohio, USA. February 18, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Ohio small ruminant production: Common challenges and questions. 2023 Midwest Veterinary Conference. Columbus, Ohio, USA. February 17, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. All about sheep and goats – The Ohio State University Ohio 4-H February Zoom Webinar Series: Handling and Welfare. Online. February 23, 2023. Video link.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. All about sheep and goats – The Ohio State University Ohio 4-H February Zoom Webinar Series: Health – Market lamb and breeding stock challenges. Online. February 8, 2023. Video link.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. All about sheep and goats – The Ohio State University Ohio 4-H February Zoom Webinar Series: Nutrition – Animal management and selection. Online. February 2, 2023. Video link.

Campbell, B.J. Smith J. 2023. Lambing and it’s challenges. Mid-Ohio Shepherd’s Ohio Grazing Conference. Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA. January 27, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small ruminant production flock nutrition considerations. Ag Pro Expo. Millersburg, Ohio, USA. January 26, 2023.

Campbell, B.J., Gelley, C.H. 2022. 2022 OSU Sheep Research Update. Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium. Wooster, Ohio, USA. December 3, 2022.

Campbell, B.J., Gelley, C.H. 2022. Vegetation management of vineyards with sheep. 2022 Lamb and Wine Field Day. Piketon, Ohio, USA. November 5, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Interpreting forage analyses and understanding ruminant livestock needs. Small Farm Ruminant Field Day. Wooster, Ohio, USA. October 8, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Ruminant housing systems and principles. Small Farm Ruminant Field Day. Wooster, Ohio, USA. October 8, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Condition your flock for winter. Mid-Ohio Shepherds group Mt. Hope Fall Meeting. Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA. September 27, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Live lamb and carcass evaluation. Mid-Ohio Shepherds group Mt. Hope Fall Meeting. Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA. September 27, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Health considerations for small sheep and goat operations. Farm Science Review: Small Farm Center. London, Ohio, USA. September 21, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Meeting nutritional needs in solar grazing. Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office: Solar Grazing 101 Workshop. Harrodsburg, Kentucky, USA. September 17, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Small ruminant marketing trends and opportunities. OSU Extension Muskingum County Monthly Breakfast Talk. Zanesville, Ohio, USA. September 6, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Integrating sheep grazing into vineyard operations. 2022 Grape Field Day: Mulch and Mutton. Geneva, Ohio, USA. August 11, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Sheep marketing options. An Evening with Lamb. Urbana, Ohio, USA. June 11, 2022.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Quality comparisons of annual forages. Mid-Ohio Shepherds and Ohio Grazing Conference Resource Guide. November 2022. p. 67-68.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Winter grazing: Annual forages improve lamb growth and health parameters. Mid-Ohio Shepherds and Ohio Grazing Conference Resource Guide. November 2022. p. 51-52.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Challenges to Ohio sheep production. Ohio’s Country Journal. November 16, 2022. Article link.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Thinking outside of the box – The use of plant compounds as natural anthelmintics. May 16, 2023. Extension article link.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Capturing premiums with small ruminant products through niche marketing. March 21, 2023. Extension article link.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. 3 Challenges in Ohio sheep production systems. November 15, 2022. Extension article link.

Campbell, B.J. 2022. Small ruminant production: Are CIDRs Reusable? July 5, 2022. Extension article link.

Collins M.J., Roeder B.L., Yeoman C.J., Posbergh C.J. Characterizing the Wool Microbiome and its influence on Lamb and Wool Production. 139^th Annual Montana Wool Growers Convention, Billings, MT. Dec 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Preventing common abortion disease outbreaks in sheep flocks on the upper Midwest USA.   Michigan Shepherd News.

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Understanding sore mouth disease in small ruminants. Michigan Shepherd News.

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022.  Braising and slow cooking techniques for lamb neck and shanks.   Michigan Shepherd News.

Ehrhardt, R.A. Michigan Sheep Production Opportunities.  Sheep health and nutrition workshop.  MSU Extension Sheep Producer Meeting and Workshop.  Mio, MI. Sept 22-23, 2022. 

Ehrhardt, R.A. Prevention and treatment of common nutritional disorders in small ruminants.  Michigan Veterinary Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, Oct 7, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A. Critical control points for lamb survival.  Michigan Veterinary Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, Oct 7, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R. A. The importance of the non-traditional US lamb market. (Moderator of panel discussion) American Lamb Summit, East Lansing, MI. August 8, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A. (Presenter/interviewee) Accelerated lambing podcast. American Sheep Industry Podcast Series, August 25, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A. Confinement Sheep Production.  (Panel discussion member).  Buckeye Shepherds Symposium, Wooster, OH. Dec. 3, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A. (Presenter and author).  “Critical control points for lamb survival”.  Ontario Masters Course Lamb Survival.  Nov. 15, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A. (Presenter and author).  “Managing coccidiosis in sheep production”.  Ontario Masters Course Lamb Survival.  Dec. 1, 2022.

Ehrhardt. R.A. (Presenter and author).  Considerations in facility design and on the economics of confinement sheep production. Buckeye Shepherds Symposium, Wooster, Ohio, Dec 2, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R. A. (Presenter and author).  Optimizing accelerated lambing systems to produce a consistent, year-round supply of lamb. American Lamb Summit, East Lansing, Mi   August 8, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A and K. Gould. (Presenter) “Fencing and water systems for grazing.”  MSU Extension Beginning Grazing School. Sept 7, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A and K. Gould. (Presenter) “Nutrition, health and welfare of grazing animals.”  MSU Extension Beginning Grazing School. Sept 14. 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A., Metzger, M.M., and Recktenwald, E.R. Sustainable management of internal parasites in sheep and goats in the upper Midwest and Northeast USA.  4-part webinar series.  Session 1: Parasites of impact in sheep and goats and basics of their lifecycles. Session 2: Factors that determine the risk of parasite infection and grazing management strategies to reduce risk. Session 3: Control and infection monitoring approaches and methods to maintain refugia. Session 4: Putting it all together: developing a successful sustainable integrated parasite control program for your farm.  April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17 webinar sessions.  June 11 afternoon workshop. East Lansing, MI. 

Ehrhardt, R.A., Metzger, M.M., and Recktenwald, E.R. MSU Sheep and goats for small farms program. “Application of effective vaccines in US sheep and goat farms in 2023“, “Quality assurance in sheep and goat production”, “What does a vet client patient relationship look like for sheep and goat farms in Michigan in 2023?” March 11, 2022.

Ehrhardt, R.A., Recktenwald, E.B., and Metzger, M. MSU small ruminant birth management program. 4-part webinar series: Session 1:  Nutritional management of sheep and goats in late pregnancy and lactation; Session 2: Health management of sheep and goats at birth: vaccination schedules, newborn and maternal health; Session 3: Birth assistance and newborn management; Session 4: Identifying challenges in birth management on your farm and developing improvement plans addressing health management, nutritional management and facility improvements. Jan, 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24 and Session 5: Birth management workshop Jan. 28, 2023.  East Lansing, MI.

Gelley, C.H., Morris, J., Campbell, B.J., Romich, E., Moser, S. 2022. High quality forage and cool-season hay at solar sites with Ohio State. American Solar Grazing Association Monthly Webinar #58. Online. September 7, 2022.

Lewis, R., Boyer, T., Brito, L, Murphy, T., Freking, B., Burke, J., Taylor, B., 2022. Sheep GEMS. Sheep Industry News.

Murphy, T.W. Jr., Freking, B.A., Burke, J.M., Taylor, J.B., 2022. Updates from the USDA ARS Genetic reference flocks. Sheep Industry News.

Petersson, K.H., Kass, E.P.  Potential tools for managing internal parasites in pastured small ruminants. Cornell Sheep and Goat Symposium, Ithaca, NY, September 17, 2022.

Petersson, K.H. Best Management Practices for Integrated Gastrointestinal Parasite Control in Small Ruminants.  Dairy Sheep Association Virtual Symposium, November 9, 2022.

Petersson, K.H., Kass, E.P. Best Management Practices for Integrated Gastrointestinal Parasite Control in Small Ruminants.  AASRP ADGA Veterinary Continuing Education Program. Liverpool/Syracuse, New York, October 1, 2022.

Petersson, K.H., Kass, E.P. Got Worms? Integrated Parasite Management for Pastured Small Ruminants NOFA VT Winter Conference Intensives, Burlington, VT, February 19, 2023.

Recktenwald, E.B and R.A. Ehrhardt.  Major factors influencing the carbon footprint of US lamb production.  American Lamb Summit, Lansing, MI August 9, 2022.

Relling, A.E., Campbell, B.J. 2022. Soy hulls and lambs. 2022 eBarns Report – Ohio State Digital Ag Program. p. 56-57. 2022 eBarns report link.

Schaub D., Posbergh C.J. Associations between Microbial Communities and Physiological States in Range Sheep. 139^th Annual Montana Wool Growers Convention, Billings, MT. Dec 2022.

Wilson, C.S., Lewis, R.M. 2022. Probing the genetic diversity of Suffolk sheep. Sheep Industry News. Volume 26, Issue 5: 14-15.

Genetic reference flocks established at ARS stations. August 2022. American Sheep Industry Association Sheep Industry News. Sheep Industry News August 2022 (digitaledition.pub)

Sheep Industry News Genetics issue discussing the weigh system and the use of GPS units. Sheep Industry News August 2022 (digitaledition.pub)